It's a Cold, Cold World

The low was 27 degrees last night, with a high expected today of 34.  There's a chance for snow tomorrow.

Thankfully, my hotel room and every other building I've been in have been mercifully heated well.

Side note - Please forgive me in advance for painting with a broad brush.

That being said, I have a theory about dressing for the cold - If I see white folks with their coats on, I know I need to grab three (a sweater, light coat, with a heavy one on top), plus hat, gloves and scarf.  So far, it has held up.

I opted not to ride the "hop on, hop off" bus today, and took a walk to Wencelas Square, as it is only a half mile from my hotel.  Moving at a pretty brisk pace kept me warm, so did the new heavy duty wool gloves I bought.  I had to ditch the cute leather ones for something warmer and more practical.

This really is a walking city.  You see lots of people walking, and taking the public transportation. It's laid out well, making it relatively easy to get around.

One of the things I've noticed as I've traveled through the city, is the number of book stores I've seen.  Small Mom & Pop shops and a large chain-like one that I browsed through.  I appreciate my electronic gadgets that allow me to read on them, but I miss holding a book and turning the pages, coming to the end, having that feeling of satisfaction at finishing it.  It's just not the same with the gadgets.  And of course, as much as I love Amazon and appreciate all that it offers, the demise of local bookstores can be leveled square in its lap.

So, anyway, I spent some time just browsing through some of the storefronts on the square.  I referred to the map that the hotel gave me to get there, but followed a different path getting home and realized that I was lost.  Thank God, I had Google Maps downloaded on my phone.  I activated the internet, plugged in the hotel's name and viola, the walking route was highlighted with a moving ball for me to follow and it took me right to the hotel.

I love those Google boys!

If that didn't work, Plan B would have been to hail a cab.

Another thing that I've noticed in all of the places I've visited, is the number people who smoke, especially young people.  It's like they didn't get the memo that smoking is hazardous to your health.  The protection from smokers and their smoke is not like it is in the US.  Again, it's like they haven't heard about the dangers of secondhand smoke either.

I remember when smoking was outlawed on flights for passengers, but the pilots were still allowed to smoke.  I don't know if that is still in effect.  I just googled it, and it looks like it is in place.  If the guy, or gal, needs to smoke to calm their nerves up there and that allows them to more effectively do their job, smoke on.

Now a note about the food -

The folks here seem to eat a lot of sausages and cold cuts.  Reminds me a lot of Germany.  I think the food is better here though.  I especially like the sausages. They are very much like the ones we had back home in Texas.  They cook them outside on an open flame, browning the outside until they're crisp.  Yummy.

Again, there are McDonald's, KFC, and Starbucks and some other brands that we have in the UAE.

Also, as before, I have heard American pop music piped in stores, on the square, and in the cabs.  R & B, too.  There was even Country Western Christmas carols on the cab radio yesterday.  Surprise.  Surprise.

Here are a few more pictures taken on Wescelas Square.

Enjoy!

Monkey Protesting Unequal Pay

This video is less than three minutes long.  Watch it til the end.  FASCINATING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mynrRd7Ak&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

It's a Pale, Pale World

It is striking how different the color landscape of the people is here, compared to the UAE.  There are more blonds than I've ever seen in one place.  But, I counted four black folks today, and had a great conversation with one of them, a kid from Morocco.

I boarded a "hop on, hop off" bus around the city and stopped at several places to get a closer look.

Side note -

As I was waiting for the bus, I noticed what looked like a stationary crane beside a building.  It was an elevator shaft for lifting materials to the roof.  Very interesting.

This is the elevator at the top of the building.

Now to today's adventure -

First though, a note about the weather.

It was cold as a booger bear outside where I spent most of the day.  All of that bragging I was doing about how pleasant the weather was, well it did not apply today.  It was bone chilling cold.

My first stop was a cable car ride to Petrin Hill which has a magnificent panoramic view of the city.  Huge thanks to Houran for suggesting this.

This is an observation tower shaped like the Eiffel Tower.
It's on Petrin Hill.

Twice today I was reminded of Cape Town.  The first time was the cable ride to the top of Petrin.  This car had a railroad track to ride on.  The one in Cape Town taking you from the bottom of the mountain to the top, dangled from the cables suspended overhead stretching across to the top of Table Mountain.

The second reminder was the closer examination of the "haunting men" sculpture from yesterday.  Although it's not easy to look at when you consider it represents how the people were treated under communism, somehow it draws you in and you can sense the pain it stands for.  Likewise the visit to Robben Island were Mandala was imprisoned, leaves a lasting impression.

Next stop, Old Town Square, and the first thing I did was get some hot red wine.

Yes, you read it right.

On the outing yesterday I noticed signs for it, and asked about it.  The guy I was chatting with noted that the heat probably causes the alcohol content to be minuscule.

So . . .

I had a cup of red wine heated just right.

By now, the world knows I don't drink, but my curiosity and the freaking cold weather got the best of me.  After sipping about half of it, I remembered why I don't drink the stuff.  Immediately my stomach was upset, so the chucked the rest of it and continued my journey to . . .

Old Town Square -

It really was a winter wonderland of shops, food vendors, beautiful decorations and lots and lots of people.

Oldest working astronomical clock.
It was built in 1410.

People milling about Old Town Square

Another view

Beautiful, enormous Christmas tree

Another lovely building

More Old Town Square

A Shetland pony

More farm animals

Decorative scene

Old & Dumb - Sheikh Version

I know.

Another traffic report.

Sorry.

It's a serious pet peeve of mine.

Everyday huge SUVs (that make Suburbans look like Smart cars, they're so freaking big) can be seen barreling down the road, flashing their lights for the person in front of them to move out of the way.  If you don't, or can't, move over fast enough, they tailgate so closely you can no longer see the front end of the car in the rearview mirror.

Insane.

Anyway.

I thought the Sheikhs all had drivers.  In this case, he should have.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/abu-dhabi-police-catch-sheikh-abdullah-texting-while-driving

Young & Dumb - Rich Version

I'm interrupting my love affair with Prague, to bring you this outrageous story found in today's edition of The National Paper (UAE).

This is an example of having so much money, you don't know what to do with it.

Crazy, crazy, crazy!  And they wonder why there were over 600 accidents in one day last week!

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-police-catch-300kph-jet-fuel-road-racers?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%2BNewsletter%2B20-12-2012

What a Beautiful City!

I took lots of pictures today, but they don't come close to depicting just how beautiful this city is.

Many were taken on the tour bus and you can see the glare of the window.  Others were taken as we walked around the Prague Castle.

Enjoy!

Very gothic looking building

I loved how bright and cheerful the landscape was,
even on an overcast day.

Frank Gehry Building depicting Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
You can't see him from this angle.
The flared bottom represents the flare of her dress.

Fred Astaire is portrayed on the right, with a top hat.

Again, the colors are wonderful.

The Charles Bridge

A breathtaking palace in the Prague Castle complex.
The walls are textured, lending a 3-D effect.

Inside the Castle complex

The backside of the castle.

The front of Prague Castle.
There are no words to describe how magnificent this structure is.

Another view of the first picture - cool gothic building

This firewood is being sold in the middle of town square.

Street view

A picturesque hôtel

This view is overlooking the city.
You can't tell, but it was a "wow" view.

Me, just inside the castle gates.

This doorway to the castle is called "the golden gate."

This scene is haunting.
It is a memorial to the victims of communism.
There is a plaque that reads:
"205486 convicted, 248 executed, 4500 died in prison,
327 annihilated at the border, 170938 emigrated". 
It begins with a whole man, with each progressive man loosing more and more of himself,
until the only thing left is a foot.
It is a sobering site.

Hello Prague!

Colorful buildings

I arrived this afternoon after a six-hour flight from Dubai.  I had the row to myself, so I was able to stretch out and sleep.  I left home at 4:30 am and I woke up every hour on the hour, checking the time so as not to oversleep, so my sleep was restless.

The weather was spectacular the entire trip, and only became overcast and damp when we landed, or maybe it was just visible then.

The people I've met in passing have been warm and friendly.

I left a sea of brown folks back home.  There were three people of color on this plane, including me.  I haven't seen any out and about yet.

The city is old, but is it well preserved.  Although it's big, it has a quaint feel to it.

The buildings - offices, apartments, and businesses - all all painted different colors, making them warm and inviting.

I'm staying steps away from this intersection.

This is a view from my room.

I was pleasantly surprised that, although it was hovering just above the freezing mark when we landed, it didn't feel that cold at all, thank God.  I was wearing flip flops with the intention of changing my shoes when we landed, but I was too tired, and as it turned out, it wasn't necessary.

There's lots to see and do.

More soon.

Good morning to you.

Good night to me.

50 Richest Guys in My World

I confess.  I only got to number 15, but I thought it was really interesting where they're from within the region.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/50-richest-arabs-in-world-revealed-482542.html?img=13

This is followed by the ten richest folks in the world.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/revealed-10-richest-people-in-world-482685.html?img=9

The Year in Review

I love this time of year, when we stop and look back on all that's happened.

Thanks to Google for making the following video and www.andrewsullivan.com for sharing it.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY_MUB8adEQ&feature=player_embedded

Health Care

The dentist I see is in one of the outpatient clinics of a hospital.  There's a full range of services provided by a team of about eight dentists.  There are stand alone dentist offices, but they typically don't  take insurance, or maybe it's just the type of insurance I have.  Dental cleanings are not covered by insurance at either place.

All medical and dental clinics are open until 10:00 at night.  They close from about 1:00 to 4:30, and then stay open late.  Many pharmacies are open 24-hours.

The American doctor I have to see to renew my medications is rarely on the late shift.  He's the only doctor in this clinic who is authorized to prescribe one of the meds I use.

Every international airport I've been through has a pharmacy.  This has really come in handy when you get off a flight feeling under the weather, although I usually carry a wide variety of "just in case" meds.

Side note - I'm on a soft diet because of the oral surgery, and went to the store looking for applesauce.  Folks here have no idea what that is.  So, being the resourceful person that I am, I went to the baby food section and found all kinds of pureed fruits.  Of course I passed on the meats and vegetables.

Side note 2 - Speaking of soft foods, I've been having a hankering for grits, which I absolutely love, and to my wondrous delight, they are available from Amazon, too.

One of these days soon, I need to once again, count the many ways I love Amazon.

Side note 3 - It rained last night.  Remember, it only rains four days a year, so this is a big deal.  Unfortunately, I slept through it.  It was wonderful walking outside to the smell of rain though.

Back to health care -

Antibiotics and many other drugs that are prescription only in the US can be purchased over the counter here.  There is a long list of drugs banned from entering this country, most of which have to do with mental health, which is taboo.

The patient name and date the meds are dispensed is not included on medicine labels.  The handwritten labels just provide the directions for taking them.

The hospital pharmacies are old school through and through.  The pharmacies I worked in over thirty years ago were more modern and up-to-date than these. Nothing is computerized, everything is handwritten in ledgers.

My dentist wrote a prescription for the injectable meds he gave me, to replace the ones he used in his office.  It led me to believe that he had to pay for these meds out of pocket.  Could that be?

There is nothing ADA compliant about public buildings.  There is a 1" x 4" that covers the threshold of every door, including the restrooms, making it very difficult to manage in a wheelchair.  Most of the doors to enter the toilets, as they're called here, are way to narrow for a wheelchair.

Speaking of names for restrooms, in many countries I've visited, I ran into the initials WC, which stands for water closet.

As I've mentioned before, car seats and seat belts are rarely used.  You can see kids riding in the driver's and/or front seat passenger's lap.  I believe this is the reason most accidents result in fatalities.  One of our teachers was in an accident days before school began this year where she was thrown from the car because she wasn't wearing a seat belt.  She is paralyzed from the waist down.  She has three children, all under the age of five.  I'm told that there is a strong possibility that she will be sent back home to Egypt because her medical care is likely to be long term.

Side note 4 - Driving is Egypt and India was outrageous, but in the week that I was in each country, I didn't see an accident.  In Jordan, where the roads were calm and the drivers friendly, I witnessed two.

Side note 5 - I've been following the tragedy at the elementary school in Connecticut.  As a former principal, I think I can speak for us all and say we pray to God we never have to deal with an intruder on campus, especially someone who was bound and determined to take lives.  I join my prayers with the million of others, for the victims and their families, of this terrible tragedy.

Winter Break

Today begins the first day of our winter break.  We have three weeks off.  Although Christmas isn't observed by the majority of people here, it's wonderful that this break coincides with it.  There are Christmas trees decorated in the shopping areas, but it feels like an afterthought, not the focus.

Last year at this time, I was living in a hotel, shopping for furniture, and waiting for deliveries.  A lot has happened in a year.

I'm headed to the Eastern European city of Prague for a few days.  It was recommended by a friend.  Prior to this trip, I have kept my visits to relatively warm locals because I don't have winter clothes here and it doesn't make sense to buy some to wear for a few days out of the year.  I had a change of heart when planning this trip. I checked the weather in Prague, and the highs are expected to be at just above freezing.  Then I checked my closet and found a coat that I don't remember packing. In the pockets were gloves, and with the purchased of a heavy wool hat and scarf, I'm ready for my Tuesday departure to a winter wonderland.

Wish me luck.

Complete vs. Finished

From an email going around.


No dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED.  However, in a recent linguistic conference held in London, England, and attended by some of the best linguists in the world:  Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese, was the clear winner.

His final challenge was this: Some say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED. Please explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand.

Here is his astute answer: "When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. But, when you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!"

Loved Like This

Below is a kind of love letter the writer has written to his recently deceased wife.  It is touching in many ways, and it caused me to think - wouldn't it be wonderful to be loved like this?

As tough as I am and as independent as I pride myself in being, I gotta admit, it would be nice to seen as super special in someone else's eyes.

Of course, I have wonderful friends, both male and female, but you know what I mean.  A guy just for me who loves me like crazy.

What woman doesn't want that?

I'm probably fooling myself to think that I would give up the freedom I'm enjoying in being alone, but maybe, just maybe, I can have both.

OK.  OK.

Enough dreaming.

Enjoy the article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/richard-cohen-mona-ackerman-had-the-gift/2012/12/10/192650f2-42f2-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?hpid=z3

Best Dog Ever!

Adorable!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/dog-waits-while-toddler-splashes-puddle_n_2270197.html

Another Healthcare Solution?

Very interesting.

As seen on Andrew Sullivan's blog, The Dish.

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/12/vip-md.html

What Would You Do?

Fascinating article from the New York Times about how people respond to others needing help.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/opinion/nocera-its-hard-to-be-a-hero.html?hp

It's That Way!

In Thursday's local paper, there was an article about Dubai getting a system in place to assign GPS coordinates to every possible destination in that city.  See the article below.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-addresses-its-need-for-directions-with-navigation-system

That's great, but I hope they don't stop there.  Every inch of this country needs to be identified by GPS. Not just the big cities.  As I've mentioned before, the lack of physical addresses makes for colorful living when you're trying to find some place.

Thank God, I figured out how to get around by finding the GPS coordinates to the biggest landmark closest to wherever I'm headed.  That has saved me a tremendous amount of time and aggregation.

Side note -

This is labeled under:  Some things better left to the imagination.

On the main level of the Dubai Airport, there is a bank of elevators that are made of glass.  You can see the mechanisms working as they go up and down.

I don't need to see that.  I'm OK with being in the dark.

Interestingly, the mechanisms for the huge rotating lift that carries folks to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town is also clear, but I found that one fascinating to see.

Go figure.

Anyway, I'm guessing you all are in the full swing of Christmas preparations.  I've got my iPod on a steady rotation of holiday songs.

There are Christmas trees and other decorations in the malls and shopping areas, but it is not saturated like in other places that recognize the holiday.

I'm OK with that, too.

Here's hoping that this is your best Christmas ever, and the beginning of the best years of your life.

Stockton

Several years ago, two of my colleagues in Sacramento were planning to pursue their doctoral degrees.  On a fluke, I joined them.

I have known more than my fair share of educated fools, and I didn't want to fall into this category, even accidentally.

However, thinking that it would help in pursuing other avenues in education, I enrolled with my buddies at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

Stockton can best be described as a blue collar town, that stinks to the high heavens as you're driving to it, and also in the beautiful, newly renovated downtown area.  Going south from Sacramento you pass a dairy farm, so I get the funk there, but downtown?  PeeYuwee!

I thought about Stockton today because I saw that the great jazz musician, Dave Brubeck, passed away.  He was from Stockton.

My experience with the town/city was not a pleasant one.

Although I'm not an education snob, I thought the intellectual conversation at the doctoral level would be enriching and fulfilling.

Boy, was I wrong.

First of all, the teaching staff was small, only 4-5 folks would be teaching all of the classes that we would be required to take.

Even that would be bearable, if the folks were engaging and openminded.

They were not.

Now, you might say that I have this funky attitude towards the place because after a 1.5 years, I dropped out.

I'm proud of my buddies who succeeded in muddling through the nonsense to complete the program.

At my age, sitting in a class, I question everything.  That's how I learn.  Some folks, of the small-minded variety, are intimated by that.  What they say should be considered gospel, with no questions asked.

I learned the hard way that when you piss off small-minded people, they do small-minded things to retaliate.

It is what it is, and life goes on.

Do I reget not completing the program?

No.

I think I would have been content in that world, and it was only with the stirring of discontent, that I sought after and found this dream job.

So remember, if you're ever driving through Stockton, keep your windows up, drive fast, and listen to Take Five by Dave Brubeck.

Oral Surgery

I have few regrets in my life, but not taking care of my teeth is definitely one of them.

When I was growing up, we only visited the dentist when we were in pain, and the usual remedy was extraction.

Having grown up with this mindset, you would think, somewhere along the way, I would have recognize this was not the best in dental care.

I did, but not to the degree that I should have.

Thankfully, Ben and Frankie received better dental care, but it was still lacking the optimal attention it deserved.

At 53 years old, I got braces, in preparation for serious dental work.  The rationale was to strengthen my teeth before the extensive other work.

Two years later the braces came off, and the restoration was beginning, when I was hired for this job.  So, I sent out of the orthodontist's door with the directive to wear my retainers 24/7 so my teeth wouldn't shift back to their original crooked places.

Being the good girl that I am, I followed doctors orders.

A mild, irritating off and on toothache caused me to visit the dentist here, and after that issue was taken care of, the massive restoration work began.

Hence, the oral surgery.

The dentist was great and the procedures went well, but . . .

Thank God for drugs!

I don't understand folks shy away from drugs that can ease the pain.  I know what pain feels like, and I'm never anxious to feel it again.

But, of course, to each his own.

As I've mentioned before, the local folks here fall into two categories - those teenagers and young adults in braces, and the kids and old folks with rotting teeth. This is fascinating because medical and dental care is free to all nationals.

Here's to happy brushing, flossing, and deep cleaning.

If You Knew This Was the End . . . Part 3

This one brought back some tough memories, but it is filled with hope.  It was also taken from an article by June Cohen, in the Huffington Post.  It's 19 minutes long.

Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX32U_hfri4

If You Knew This Was the End . . . Part 2

This was taken from an article by June Cohen, in the Huffington Post.  It's six minutes long.

Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGalW9iK2tI

If You Knew This Was the End, What Would You Do?

This was taken from an article by June Cohen, in the Huffington Post.  It's five minutes long.

If this doesn't work, here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zk2DpgLCs

Favorite Places

Without a doubt, Jordan stands out as one of my favorite places.  The only downside is it's the most expensive place I've visited thus far.  One hundred US dollars is equivalent to 70 Jordanian Dinar, or 367 AED, the currency here in the UAE.

Second on my list of favorite places is Thailand.  The culture was intriguing.  The people were very warm and welcoming, and it was the cheapest place, too.  One hundred US dollars is equivalent to 3,071Baht.

More pictures from Jordan.

This is the remains of a monument dedicated to Hercules.
It was destroyed in a massive earthquake years ago.

This monument was erected in remembrance
of the visit to Mt. Nebo in 2000 by Pope John Paul.

Mount Nebo is owned by the Catholic Church and is maintained by a sect of the Franciscan Priests.  There is a church at the top of the mountain that is under renovation.  It dates back hundreds of years.

The Abdoun Bridge in Amman.  It's beautiful!
The sides lean out forming a V-Shape.

This photo I found online, taken at night.

Also from online, this photo of the Dead Sea.

Parting Thoughts . . . Mostly Random

I was surprised to see a Safeway Supermarket in Jordan.  I also saw McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Burger King here, and everywhere else I've traveled.

911 is the number to call in an emergency in Jordan.  In the UAE, it's 999.

The drivers, like their personas elsewhere, are polite.  Folks yielded to each other, waving people onto the road in front of them.  There was almost no horn blowing.  Compared to Egypt and India, this was extraordinary.

The folks drive like we do in the US, on the same side of the road.  You could rent a car here and not feel threatened.

Some of the homes are enormous.  What was interesting about most was that the front doors were clear glass, like you see at malls and offices.  You walk through that, then you get to the front doors.  A novel concept for homes.

The dirt throughout Jordan is a rich, red clay.  So pretty, you want to stop and play in it.

Grape, fig, olive and pomegranate trees are prevalent throughout this country.

Corn is planted around the perimeter of the gardens, acting as a natural fence.

There is a huge Christian Church that sits across the street from the largest mosque in the area.  No problems at all.

In general, Arab men who wear the head covering, toss it back out of their face like girls with long hair toss theirs.

Only the men who live the nomadic life wear the long robes here.  And they are not white, but black or brown.

Finally, if you use a wash cloth, it is rare to find them in international hotels.  I carry my own so that I'm sure to have one.

Checking out.

More soon.

Jordan, Day 2

Today was just as meaningful and insightful as yesterday.

I visited the Amman Citadel, which is a fort like compound that has historic artifacts dating back thousands of years.

Next stop was Mount Nebo, which is believed to be the mountain that Moses stood on when he peered over to the Promise Land.  The West Bank of Jerusalem can be seen below, as well as the Jordan River, which flows into the Dead Sea.

This is on Mt. Nebo.
Jerusalem can be seen in the distance behind me.

The video was taken at the Dead Sea.  There are beautiful hotels that have recently been built.  It appears Jordan is trying to capitalize on its popularity.  Half of the sea is in Jordan, the other half in Israel.  The Dead Sea is almost 1400 feet below sea level.  It is the lowest area in the world.  The ride down to it was an ear-popping, narrow, winding trek.

Side note - I was hoping to get into Israel, and probably could have with my US passport, but time ran out.  I would not have been able to get back into the UAE though, if an Israeli stamp appeared in my passport.  It would have to be stamped on a piece of paper that could be removed.

Side note 2 - More black folks.  Swimming in the Dead Sea.

This whole area was built around, and in some cases, built into, the rolling mountain ranges.  In fact, downtown Amman sits in a deep valley, with the neighborhoods forming in the hills surrounding it.

Below are some pictures of the streets of Amman.

Enjoy.